Doctor Who Club of Australia

[ADAMK]

What do people make of this (Season 23) 1986 story written by Philip Martin?

This is the analysis from the official BBC website (WARNING! SPOILERS): http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/trialtimelord2/analysis.shtml

[Tom N.]

I've got to say, this one's pretty dire thus far. The direction is flat as a pancake and it's very difficult to care about what's going on. And did anyone else think that Part 2 (Part 6 of the overall arc) coud have used some more incidental music? Some scenes in Crozier's lab were obviously meant to be thrilling and exciting and dramatic, but they were utterly devoid of music which made it seem more like an early rehearsal than a final edit.

About the only good bit occurred near the beginning:

Doctor: I OBJECT!!!!
Inquisitor (from out of shot): Sit down and shut up! (reflecting the feelings of the viewer, perhaps?)

I laughed my head off at that, but unfortunately there was precious little to enjoy afterwards.

[charlie]

I saw parts one and two today. They were TERRIBLE!!!! The music is half the show what was going on?! The story was a regular doctor who thing but why wasnt there music. That was the worst doctor Ive ever seen.

And Sil didnt seem quite the same. Did anyone else notice that we never saw Sil when he was gurgling his tougne. It always focused on who he was gurgling at.

[charlie]

Yay parts three and four are back to normal!

I pray that I never see another atrocity such as parts one and two.

[Wester]

Very rarely do I vote 'Turkey'. However, for this installment its a case of 'gobble, gobble, gobble'.

[meglos]

Sad to see the end of Peri.

[SharazJek]

I'd rather watch this over Happiness Patrol any day. Brian Blessed is one of the best OTT actors of the 20th century. Love it!

Crozier was also well played.

I fail to see what is so wrong with it.

It would have been fun to have Peri's brain transferred into Kiv's body and continue her adventures with the Doctor.

Someone pass the marshmillows!!

[Genlock]

I glad someone else (Tom N. & Charlie) noticed the incidental music was missing from Part 02 of "Mindwarp". I'll have to drag out the Tardis Tin with the complete TOATL on it and see if it's the same.

Or did the ABC just get a dud copy?

I remember (does anyone else?) that when Tom Baker was leaving the role (or was it Peter Davidson?), that rumours flew that Brian Blessed was to be the new Doctor. It even got a piece in the local "SMH TV Pink Guide" of the time. Of course it wasn't true, just Brian Blessed having some fun and telling tall tales at some exhibition. Can you imagine what the show would have been like with Brian Blessed as "The Doctor"?

Personally I'm waiting to hear the words "take six" which legend has it can be heard somewhere during this trial.

[Dougy]

Possibly the worst WHO set of episodes ever. THe only good part was Nicols brilliant acting once she has changed. What is it with the WHO actresses being better when they are "possesed" then when they are actually in character?

[Genlock]

A friend just pointed out the following which I completely missed.

The writer credits at the start of "Trial" Pt.07 or "Mindwarp" Pt.03 are wrong, and you can see a jump in the picture where the edit takes place. As my friend said; "Who was at the wheel when this one got past?".

And yes, "Mindwarp" Pt.02 has no incidental music or SFX, which are present on the VHS copy. And the edit broadcast by the ABC is also just slightly different from the VHS version.

Good to see the distributors are concerned that we the viewers only get the best.

[Davros]

[hallhotdogma]

Episode 2 without the incidentals showed it up for the crap that it is. My girlfriend was none to impressed!

[Genlock]